Any advice on an outdoor car cover for my 718 GTS

[ralphmusic]

No recent experience but putting covers on and off can be a pain, as you say you'll probably want to dry the car first which means cleaning poo etc off etc.

Have you thought of having the car ceramic coated so you then have the choice of no need for cover or ceramic coating plus the cover with less concern on cleaning/drying it first?

 

[antonyg]

No recent experience but putting covers on and off can be a pain, as you say you'll probably want to dry the car first which means cleaning poo etc off etc.

Have you thought of having the car ceramic coated so you then have the choice of no need for cover or ceramic coating plus the cover with less concern on cleaning/drying it first?

It's already ceramic coated. that doesn't stop if getting dirty it just means I don't have to apply a wax to get a shine after washing tbh. I'm interested in why I'd have less concern about drying before putting a cover on if its got a ceramic coat?

 

[Motorhead]

Antony,

I would think that ceramic coating would lessen the chance of surface scratching every time you put-on or take-off the cover, although I doubt that it would eliminate it completely?

Jeff

 

[antonyg]

I've been thinking of getting a car cover for my 718 GTS as I only have off street parking and don't have a port or garage to keep her clean (and free from animal damage etc. urban foxes clambering over my cars is a thing unfortunately.)

I'd read that the official covers are a bit of pain as you need to remove moisture from the surface before putting them on (which would be a bit a of pain timewise).

Does anyone have advice or experience on this? Are there breathable alternatives to the porsche official covers that don't suffer from this?

Cheers

 

[ralphmusic]

It's already ceramic coated. that doesn't stop if getting dirty it just means I don't have to apply a wax to get a shine after washing tbh. I'm interested in why I'd have less concern about drying before putting a cover on if its got a ceramic coat?

Simply because the extra protection would avoid stains from any surface water being difficult to remove and offer protection from scuffing as the cover will move with wind. As to Jeff's point, ceramic does not stop all scratching but I'd bet it would substantially reduce any from a cover going on and off. It's all a matter of attitude to risk but as said previously, I have not used a cover for some years and perhaps breathable covers have materially improved but maybe Dave will pitch in as he keeps his GT4 outside.

 

[Tetris Keyring]

From personal experience I’d be carful with an outdoor cover.

I had one as my car lives outside. Despite having a ceramic coating I still ended up with marring on the roof, bonnet and wing mirrors. All was polished out but needed the coating taking off and reapplying.

If there is any dirt on the car, a bit of wind under the cover and it becomes like sandpaper.

 

[Motorhead]

I don’t have any experience with outdoor covers Antony but I have to agree with Ralph’s comments, potential scuffing when fitted in particular.

I suppose that a lot depends upon whether or not the car is in daily use. I’d find it a real faff to remove and refit it every day, less so for occasional/weekend use only. Marauding urban foxes sounds a bit troubling though!

Jeff

 

[ralphmusic]

I don’t have any experience with outdoor covers Antony but I have to agree with Ralph’s comments, potential scuffing when fitted in particular.

I suppose that a lot depends upon whether or not the car is in daily use. I’d find it a real faff to remove and refit it every day, less so for occasional/weekend use only. Marauding urban foxes sounds a bit troubling though!

Jeff

You need a crusading QC in a kimono for fox control

 

[Motorhead]

You need a crusading QC in a kimono for fox control

That I’d like to see Ralph!

Jeff

 

[ralphmusic]

Here you go Jeff, from the Guardian so it must be true

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2019/dec/26/prominent-lawyer-jolyon-maugham-tweets-about-clubbing-a-fox-to-death

 

[Motorhead]

 

[JohnCRS]

Could you use something like this?

https://www.dancovershop.com/uk/product/portable-garage-pro-33x6x24-m.aspx

Lots of alternatives available. Trouble with covers is that any grit and dirt that gets into the fabric seems to stick there forever and ultimately the cover does more harm than good. Often it is just not possible to clean the car before putting the cover on, so it stays in the house / boot. A cover would be worth using if you have to leave the car for a week or more and can prepare it, but as a daily proposition....... probably not.

 

[antonyg]

From personal experience I’d be carful with an outdoor cover.

I had one as my car lives outside. Despite having a ceramic coating I still ended up with marring on the roof, bonnet and wing mirrors. All was polished out but needed the coating taking off and reapplying.

If there is any dirt on the car, a bit of wind under the cover and it becomes like sandpaper.

that's disappointing to hear but not much past what I was expecting.

 

[antonyg]

I don’t have any experience with outdoor covers Antony but I have to agree with Ralph’s comments, potential scuffing when fitted in particular.

I suppose that a lot depends upon whether or not the car is in daily use. I’d find it a real faff to remove and refit it every day, less so for occasional/weekend use only. Marauding urban foxes sounds a bit troubling though!

Jeff

before the GTS I owned a focus RS for a couple of years. it came with a stub Arial and was part exchanged for this GTS with a shark fin Arial as a fox chewed the stub one clean off one night. not kidding.

in south east London the foxes carry blades and smoke crack.

 

[antonyg]

Could you use something like this?

https://www.dancovershop.com/uk/product/portable-garage-pro-33x6x24-m.aspx

Lots of alternatives available. Trouble with covers is that any grit and dirt that gets into the fabric seems to stick there forever and ultimately the cover does more harm than good. Often it is just not possible to clean the car before putting the cover on, so it stays in the house / boot. A cover would be worth using if you have to leave the car for a week or more and can prepare it, but as a daily proposition....... probably not.

if I had more room definitely but unfortunately I don't really the area on my drive.

 

[Scrounger]

Mine is kept outside. It’s ceramic coated and seems to be holding up well. As mentioned, ceramic isn’t bullet proof and is only there to prevent light marring. I’ve an outdoor cover but am reluctant to put it on as it will scratch if not squeaky clean. You could try a fabric tight fitting cover then put the outdoor cover over the top but you’d probably have the same issues.

Dan